Mah Jong for Beginners: Based on the Rules and Regulations of the Mah Jong Association of Japan

By Shozo Kanai and Margaret Farrell

Mah Jong for Beginners is one of the first books to explain the game to English language readers. It remains a classic, both for its authenticity and clarity, and as a wonderful introduction for anyone who wants to know more about the fast-paced and complex game of Mah Jong. It contains everything you need to know to get started playing this Chinese tile game. Drawing directly on the rules and regulations of the Mah Jong Association of Japan, it offers easy-to-follow stepsaided by simple illustrationsthat will help both beginners and players get ready for more advanced challenges. Its instructions on play and strategy not only explain the basic rules, but also demonstrate the differences between the many regional variations of the game.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Release date: Dec 15, 1989
• ISBN: 9781462916870

Book preview

PART I.

RULES AND PROCEDURE

CHAPTER I.

HISTORY OF MAH JONG

Man Jong is the national game of China. It is sometimes called the Chinese Game of the Four Winds.

There are many theories about its origin but none of them is valid or reliable. It is believed that it originated from one form of card playing and during the first stage had 40 pieces, called Pai (pronounced pie, rhymes with lye), (in English usually called tiles, the term used in this book) which were entirely different from those of today.

Down to the 17th Century the number of tiles increased to 108. These had the portraits of the 108 Brigands of a then-famous novel.

As time elapsed the number of tiles increased until there were more than 160, having many kinds of Bonus tiles, including Flower tiles. Revolutionists appeared and cut down the number to make the game more interesting. Rules and regulations were then decided and have remained the same until the present day. The Flower tiles that we now find in the set of Mah Jong are the remains of pre-revolutionary days.

Mah Jong was imported to Japan in 1907 for the first time, and received a high reputation towards 1929. There were many Mah Jong Clubs in every urban center and competitive games were held between Japan and China. After the out-break of the Sino-Japanese War, Mah Jong was suppressed in due course, but on finishing the war it again caught the public fancy, multiplying by many times its former popularity.

CHAPTER II.

KIND NUMBER OF TILES

Tiles are usually made of bone and bamboo, but in the best quality ivory replaces the bone portion. Bone is generally derived from cattle and is imported from the U.S. and China. Bones from cattle in Japan are too small to be used in the manufacture. Plastic tiles are now being moulded to take the place of the imported bone.

There are 136 tiles in a Set. However, every Set contains another set of 4 Blanks. These are kept in reserve in case some of the tiles are lost.

There are two kinds of Letter tiles and three kinds of Numeral tiles, making up five general kinds of tiles.

Color tiles

Wind tiles

(1) Color Tiles

4- Red Letter, or Red Dragon, tiles

4- Green Letter, or Green Dragon, tiles

4 - Blanks (neither letter. nor picture),

       called White Dragon tiles

Total Color Tiles.............................. 12

(2) Wind Tiles

4 - East Wind tiles

4 - South Wind tiles

4 - West Wind tiles

4 - North Wind tiles

Total Wind Tiles ........................... 16

The Numeral Tiles are Won, Bamboo and Ball Tiles.

Won tiles

(3) Won Tiles (Won is the Chinese word for 10,000)

1 - Won to 9 - Won, 4 of each

Total Won Tiles ........................... 36

(4) Bamboo Tiles

1 - Bamboo to 9 - Bamboo, 4 of each

Total Bamboo Tiles ........................ 36

(1 - Bamboo is shown with the carving of a picture of a bird or a bamboo shoot)

Bambo tiles

Ball tiles

(5) Ball Tiles

1 - Ball to 9 - Ball, 4 of each

Total Ball Tiles.............................. 36

   (Ball tiles are indicated by double circles)

There are other classifications

a.   Old Head Tiles

1 - Won and 9- Won

1 - Bamboo and 9 - Bamboo

1 - Ball and 9 - Ball

Old Head tiles

Middle tiles

b.   Middle Tiles

2- Won to 8 - Won

2 - Bamboo to 8 - Bamboo

2 - Balls to 8 - Balls

c.   Letter Tiles

Color, or Dragon tiles, are often called the Three Original Tiles.

Wind Tiles - East, South, West, North.

See Illustration No.1

CHAPTER III.

DETERMINATION OF SEATS

Mah Jong is generally played by four persons. In the beginning the four players each take a seat at random. The table for playing must be square and covered with cloth having enough thickness to prevent noise.

Among the accessories of Mah Jong there are four small round discs made of bone. These have the letters of the four directions-East, South, West and North. If there are no discs, one of each of the four Wind tiles, contained in the Set, are placed upside down on the table. Then, arbitrarily, one of the players casts two dice (they also, are accessories), and counts, to the right, the number indicated by the spots on the dice, starting with himself. The seat, designated by the spots on the dice, is temporarily named the East seat.

Next, the person,